Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival

Lokk graduated from the Russian State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow, worked for many years as a journalist for various publications, and since 1992 was a special correspondent at the Berlin and Cannes Film Festival.

[11][5][12][13] In 2015, the festival reached an audience of 80,000, the 19th edition featured 289 films from 80 different countries; the events spanned two cities – Tallinn and Tartu.

In the same year, PÖFF also launched the first Tridens First Features, a competition programme dedicated to feature-length debuts by young directors.

[15][16] Other initiatives launched during the Covid-19 pandemic include the Discovery Campus for young filmmakers, and the Creative Gate, a database for professionals from the regions.

[17] That same year, Variety magazine included the festival's director Tiina Lokk in its list of the 50 most influential women in the global film industry, highlighting the way she managed to lead PÖFF amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

[19][20] Also since 2022, it is a partner of the Belarusian film festival in exile Northern Lights, whose programme is partly held at the PÖFF venues in Tallinn.

Apart from the main competition, separate jury panels are nominated by the FIPRESCI, NETPAC, and the International Federation of Film Clubs (FICC).

[31] The winner of the Black Nights Film Festival's main competition programme receives the Grand Prix – the Bronze Wolf statuette – and a cash prize of 5,000 euros.